John McCain Hospitalized Amid Brain Cancer Battle

Senator John McCain has sadly been hospitalized amid his brain cancer battle, according to a statement released by his office on Wednesday, Dec. 13. “Senator McCain is currently receiving treatment at Walter Reed Medical Center for normal side effects of his ongoing cancer therapy. As ever, he remains grateful to his physicians for their excellent care, and his friends and supporters for their encouragement and good wishes. Senator McCain looks forward to returning to work as soon as possible,” the message read.

John, 81, previously revealed on July 19 that he has been diagnosed with brain cancer. He subsequently underwent surgery to remove an aggressive, primary glioblastoma tumor. During a September interview with CBS’ 20/20, the politician opened up about his diagonisis. “They said that the prognosis is very, very serious. Some say three percent, some say 14 percent. You know, it’s — it’s a very poor prognosis. So I just said, ‘I understand. Now we’re going to do what we can, get the best doctors we can find and do the best we can.’ And at the same time celebrate with gratitude a life well lived.”

At the time of his diagnosis, the Arizona Republican’s office and the Mayo Clinic released a joint statement revealing that John underwent surgery to have a blood clot associated with the tumor removed. “On Friday, July 14, Sen. John McCain underwent a procedure to remove a blood clot from above his left eye at Mayo Clinic Hospital in Phoenix,” the statement read. “Subsequent tissue pathology revealed that a primary brain tumor known as a glioblastoma was associated with the blood clot. Scanning done since the procedure (a minimally invasive craniotomy with an eyebrow incision) shows that the tissue of concern was completely resected by imaging criteria. The Senator and his family are reviewing further treatment options with his Mayo Clinic care team. Treatment options may include a combination of chemotherapy and radiation.”

Though the American Brain Tumor Association describes glioblastomas as typically “highly cancerous,” John’s doctors noted that the former presidential candidate recovered “amazingly well” following the surgery, adding that “his underlying health is excellent.” Doctors discovered the clot during a routine physical and had him come in for a followup and subsequent surgery almost immediately. After revealing the diagnosis this past summer, Senator McCain was met with an outpouring of support from his constituents and colleagues. President Donald Trump even showed his support in a statement, saying, “Senator John McCain has always been a fighter. Melania and I send our thoughts and prayers to Senator McCain, Cindy, and their entire family. Get well soon.”

A post shared by John McCain (@senjohnmccain) on Aug 29, 2017 at 5:03pm PDT

Following the news, Senator McCain’s daughter Meghan also released a statement reminding her Twitter followers of her father’s resiliency. She tweeted, “It won’t surprise you to learn that in all this, the one of us who is most confident and calm is my father. He is the toughest person I know. The cruelest enemy could not break him. The aggressions of political life could not bend him. So he is meeting this challenge as he has every other. Cancer may afflict him in many ways: But it will not make him surrender. Nothing ever has.”

In another July statement, his office reassured citizens he was doing well. “Senator McCain appreciates the outpouring of support he has received over the last few days. He is in good spirits as he continues to recover at home with his family in Arizona,” the statement read. “He is grateful to the doctors and staff at Mayo Clinic for their outstanding care, and is confident that any future treatment will be effective. Further consultations with Senator McCain’s Mayo Clinic care team will indicate when he will return to the United States Senate.”